UN Warns of Dire Living Conditions in Afghanistan Amid Drought and Women’s Restrictions
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has emphasized in a new report that more than four years after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, women and girls continue to face harsh and repressive restrictions that prevent them from accessing education, employment, and participating in social life.
The report, published on Wednesday, November 18, to coincide with World Humanitarian Day, underscores that the delivery of immediate aid to Afghan women and girls is critical, as half the country’s population depends on humanitarian assistance for survival.
OCHA has warned that the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is compounded by multiple challenges, including the forced return of nearly two million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan, severe drought, and declining global aid contributions. Many of those repatriated have returned involuntarily and lack the necessary resources to rebuild their lives.
On climate-related issues, OCHA noted that Afghanistan is experiencing one of the worst droughts in decades. According to the agency, agricultural output has been severely affected this year, livestock are suffering from hunger, and hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes in search of food and water.
The report states that the ongoing drought and low rainfall levels are expected to significantly reduce crop production in 2025, putting the livelihoods of thousands of farmers at serious risk.
OCHA also highlighted a drastic decline in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan this year, even as the country continues to grapple with natural disasters such as deadly earthquakes in Kunar and Balkh provinces.
The agency has called on the international community not to remain indifferent to Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and urged for immediate and targeted support, particularly for women and children.
